Hay and cotton press



(No Model.) Y B. BRADLEY.

Hay and Cotton Press.

Patented May 3:, i881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTO BRADLEY, OE GORDON OOUNTY, GEORGIA.

HAY AND COTTON PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,186, dated May 31, 1881. Application filed April 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTONBRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Gordon and State of Georgia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Hay and Cotton Presses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and fig ures of reference marked thereon. I

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a cotton or hay press embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof.

The present invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in cotton and hay presses, and refers more particularly to that class in which the platen is operated by a hand-lever and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective means for operating the platen, whereby great power is obtained with the desired effect upon the material being pressed. These objects I attain by the construction shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the frame of the press, of the ordinary construction, provided with the usual doors, B, and press-box 0.

Within the press-box O is located the platen D, the arms a of which extend out through slots b at the sides of the box, and have connected to them pivoted or hinged pawls c, which engage with the teeth upon a ratchetbar 01.

To the under side of the arms a are connected the ends of chains 0, the lower ends thereof being detachably secured to hooks f. These hooks fare connected to rin gs g, through which pass the lower ends of hand-levers E. These hand-levers E, upon their under side, are provided, with teeth h, with which engage the lower ends of the rings g to hold them in place on the levers. The levers E have connected to their upper side, by suitable staples, t, stir reps k, said stirrups being similarly connected to the ends of a cross-bar, l, which support the flooring of the press.

It should be noticed that the fulcrum-point of the hand-lever is not on the ratchet-bar, as heretofore, but at the extreme lower end of the press, thereby increasing the power and pressure on the platen.

The manner of operating the lever E and its connections is considered an important feature of my invention.

When the press is filled with cotton, hay, straw, or anyother material the platen D is placed in the box 0 on top and the levers E elevated. The hooksfare now engaged with the links of the chains 0, and the levers alternately pressed down, the pawls c engaging with the teeth on the ratchet-bars, preventing the platen from being forced up. The ends Of the let'ers, when pressed down, have their fulcrum on the stirrups is at thelowerend or base of the press, thereby giving increased power and pressure upon the platen. After the levers have been pressed down the hooks fare again engaged with the links farther up on the chain, and the operation of forcing down the platen continued. The teeth h admit of the rings 9 being adjusted thereon so as to conveniently engage the hooks with the links of the chain.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a baling-press, the platen D, having pawls 0 connected to the arms a, and the chains c, and ratchet-bars cl, in combination with the levers E, connected to the cross-bar l at the bottom of said press by stirrups 7c, and having upon their under side teeth h, and the rings 9, with hooks f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

BURTON BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

MORGAN MOONEY, JOHN WALKER. 

